Seventy-ton-car truck



June 4, 1929. w, C, SLEEMANv 1,715,5 555 SEVENTY TON CAR TRUCK Filed oct. 12, 192e 75 .l mi s AToRNEY Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. SLEEM-AN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SEVENTY-TON-CAR TRUCK.

Application filed October 12, 1928.

This invention aims to provide a simple design of car truck spring arrangen'ient whereby the spring capacity can be readily increased from the present existing A. It. A.

standard capacity ior the so-called seventyv ton capacity railway cars. The invention aims to provide a design of spring grouping that will give increased spring capacity and which can be applied to different standard capacity car trucks without change in dimensions ot A. R. A. standard side frames and holsters.

IIcretoforc in many cases where increased capacity springs have been applied to trucks, the spring arrangements have been such that it was necessary to change the dimensions ot side trames and bolsters, thus destroying the interchangeability of parts. This made it imperative for railroad companies to carry a costly stock oi spare parts.

lith my improved design, I am able to provide increased spring` capacity on existing equipment for various standard capacity cars merely by removing the A. R. A. standard springs and applying my improved spring groups having the desired increased capacity.

The invention will be fully apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and the features o1 novelty will be defined with particularity in the appended claims. In the drawings- Fig. l is a horizontal section ot one side of a car truck embodying. my invention;

Fig. 2 isa side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 represents a typical form of truck side frame having the usual tension member 2, compression member 3 and bolster columns 4. A spring plank 7 extends transversely between the side :trames and rests on the tension 4member Q between the column guides 4 as shown.

To secure the increased spring capacity l'or the truck, I provide a novel spring grouping shown in Fig. 1. The spring group is indicated as a whole by numeral 10 and is made up oi eight large spring units, the four spring units 10a being large diameter, single coil springs and the spring units 10b being double coil springs including small diameter inner' springs 10c.

The group of springs is so disposed With Serial. No. 312,056.

respect to the iframe that three spring units are arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis --fz/ of the side trame. Of these three the two outer springs'are doublecoil sjnings as shown and the central single coil spring is positioned so that its axis lies at the intersection oi a line vnf-fa extending through the center of the spring plank side traine and the center line -/LI/ ot'. the side frame. -g/, I provide three single coil springs as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and on the inner side of the center line ac y I provide two double coil springs which are staggered with respect to the three springs lying on the center line .7c-y.

The spring grouping shown in Fig. 1 and above described Will not and is not intended to tit the standard spring plank. I7 therefore, provide a specially shaped plank 7 which is increased slightly in width at its ends to accommodate the two rows of three On the outer side ot the center linesprings which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis m-Jy of the side frame. This additional width, however, does not prevent the application of the spring group to standard seventy ton A. It. A. side frames and holsters. The springsare held by top and bottom retaining plates 12--12 having projections 14 which are adapted to lit into holes 15 and 16, respectively, in the bolster 11 and the spring plank. The retainer plates are provided with centering projections .18 adapted to position the smaller inner springs 10C. The plates are also formed with cup-like projections 17 which are perforated ior the reception of retainer bolts 13 which connect the top and bottom plates. The depth of the projections 17 is sufficient to permit working clearance for the ends of the bolts 18 when the springs are compressed under load.

In the improved design of spring arrangement, it will be seen that the group isunsymmetrical about the longitudinal center line :v -y of the frame. At least three springs (or more including the inner coils) being on the center line of the frame and three (or more if inner coils are used) being located toward the outside of the trame and two single or double springs being located toward the inner part of the truck. This arrangement is provided'so as to permit the spring plank 7 to be so formed that its side portions 25-25 can converge inwardly as shown in plan in Fig. 1 to meet the portion QG of the plank which is of a width correspending to that of the standard A. R. A. spring plank. Thus, it is clear that I provide a spring plank which accommodates a group of springs Which will give an increased capacity and yet this spring plank has its inner portion 26 of standard Width so as to provide the required clearance for adjacent parts of the standard car truck.

The group of springs described includes what have called single coil and double coil springs. For convenience of description and for clarifying the intended meaning of the` claims, l inay say that the group of springs as a Whole is made up of spring units, the term spring unit being intended to cover either a single coil spring such as shown at "L or a double coil spring including a large outer spring as shown at 10b and a small inner spring as shown at 10C.

Various modifications may be inade Without departing troni the invention as defined in the appended elaiins.

lilhat l claim is l. A car truck of the character described including a side frame, a spring pla-nk, a bolster and a group of at least eight spring units seine of which lie on the longitudinal center line of the side frame, there being more spring units on the outer' side otl said center line than on the inner side thereof.

2. A car truck of the character described comprising a side traine, bolster and a spring plank, a group of at least eight spring units disposed between the spring plank. and bolster, said spring units being unsyininetrieally arranged With respect to the` centerline of the side frame, there being a greater nuinber of spring units on the outer side of said center line than on the inner side thereof, three spring units being arranged in a row along said center line.

3'. The car truck of claim 2 in which the inner portion of the spring plank is ot standard A. R. A. Width and the outer portion thereof is of increased Width to aceom inodate the said three springs arranged in row on the center line of the said traine.

4l. A seventy toncar truck having A. R. A. standard side trainesa-nd bolster and a special spring plank, the inner portion of Which is of standard A. R. A. Width and the end portion of which is of increased Width yet of a size to lit the opening in said standard side frame and a group of eight spring units, three of which lie on the longitudinal axis of said` side traine, three more of which lie on the outer side of said longitudinal axis and two spring units lyingon the inner side of the axis of the side traine and symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the eenter line of the spring plank.'

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine.

WILLIAM C. SLEEMAN. 

